Co-op Group to boycott settlements' produce

Monday, 30 April 2012 17:23

The news agency, Agence France Presse, reports that the Co-op Group, the UK’s fifth largest supermarket retailer, is to extend its boycott of settlement produce to cover suppliers who source their goods from the illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

“Supermarket chain the Co-Operative Group is extending a boycott of goods from Israeli settlements and will now shun any supplier known to source from these areas, a statement said Saturday.

“"Following an audit of the Group's supply chain, it will no longer do business with four companies, accounting for £350,000 worth of sales, as there is evidence that they source from the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian occupied territories," the statement said.

“The Co-Op, Britain's fifth-largest food retailer, has not bought goods from the settlements since 2009, it said, but does trade with about 20 Israeli businesses that do not source from the settlements.

“"The Group will also continue to actively work to increase trade links with Palestinian businesses in the occupied territories," it added.”

The Government introduced new guidance on food labeling of settlement produce in December 2009. Oxfam’s chief executive, Barbara Stocking, said then that “Trade with Israeli settlements – which are illegal under international law – contributes to their economic viability and serves to legitimise them. It is also clear from our development work in West Bank communities that settlements have led to the denial of rights and create poverty for many Palestinians."

You can write to or call the Co-op's Customer Relations department to commend their move. Contact details are provided below: